Michael Dee marked his Melbourne comeback in style with a race-to-race double at Flemington, capped by victory in the $200,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Teaming up with Peter Snowden, Dee guided King Of Roseau to an emphatic 1½-length win—his third triumph in the race after previous wins in 2015 and 2023.
“It is a dream return and I’m just hopeful now that it can continue,” said Dee, fresh off a two-month stint in Japan.
King Of Roseau ($3.40) stormed down the outside to defeat Bandi’s Boy ($31), with Marble Nine ($5.50) in third. Favourite Splash Back ($2.60) faded to fifth.
“The way he won that, there’s definitely bigger things in store for him,” Dee said.
Snowden confirmed the gelding would likely return to Flemington, where races like the Bobbie Lewis Quality and Gilgai Stakes lead into the Group 1 Champions Sprint.
“Not every horse handles Flemington, but this horse has a bit of an affinity for it,” Snowden said.